Navigation

Northland criminals short on Christmas spirit

By Mike Dinsdale

11:31 AM Friday Dec 27, 2013

SHARE:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

LinkedIn

Not saved

Email

Print

File

Northland's criminals were well short on Christmas spirit with numerous crimes recorded across the region from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with 10 people having to spend Christmas Day in Whangarei police cells.

Whangarei Police Sergeant Paul Nicholas said sadly many criminals did not take the Christmas period off and caused plenty of problems for others.

Mr Nicholas said the 10 who spent Christmas Day in the cells - for offences ranging from domestic violence to robbery - didn't get any special festive fare with only a lunch of two pies on offer.

Twelve people appeared in Whangarei District Court yesterday - nine from Whangarei and three from the Far North - after being arrested during the last few days.

He said over the three days to yesterday morning eight burglaries were recorded - including two in Whangarei on Christmas Day - seven shoplifters caught, four thefts from cars, six other thefts, two thefts of animals - including 50 ewes and lambs from a farm at Maungaturoto - four drink drivers, three disqualified drivers and a dangerous driver.

As well, he said, there were a number of domestic disputes that police were called out to, including one in Ranger Place, Raumanga, where a man was issued with a police safety order at 9.50pm on Christmas Day ordering him to stay away from the property for five days.

However, police were called to the home again at 8.30am yesterday as the man had returned and he was arrested.

A Maungaturoto family returned home at 9pm on Christmas Day to find their property had been burgled and a $9000 red Honda 400 quad bike stolen.

Meanwhile a large amount of electrical equipment was taken when a home on Western Hills Dr, Whangarei, was broken into between 11am and 9pm on Christmas Day, Mr Nicholas said. Thieves smashed a rear window and stole three cameras, a lap top, iPad, PS3 and Xbox.